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Thumbs up: To state Senate sponsor Joe Negron, R-Stuart, and five of six Brevard delegates for voting to give citizens a right to speak on issues at public meetings. The "anti-shushing" bill guarantees residents a reasonable opportunity to address topics before their city councils, school boards or county commissions vote on them - while leaving time limits to local boards. The bill received yes votes from Republican Sens. Thad Altman of Viera, Andy Gardiner of Orlando and Republican Reps. Steve Crisafulli of Merritt Island, Ritch Workman of Melbourne and Tom Goodson of Titusville. Rep. John Tobia, R-Melbourne Beach, voted no.

Thumbs down: To U.S. House and Senate budget chairs Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., for moving too slowly to permit negotiations as the sequester begins to disrupt Space Coast contractors and service to taxpayers. Now that Republicans and Democrats have proposed budgets, the pair must reach a few agreements before their respective chambers can even appoint the committee charged with negotiating and compromising on a final federal budget. So far, no news.

Thumbs up: To Congressman Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, and his staff for their continued excellent service to constituents of all ages. Recently, Posey's staff quickly fulfilled the wishes of a local World War II veteran's daughter who wanted her father to receive the war medals he earned almost 70 years ago. Posey staffer Rob Medina presented the medals to 91-year-old Stanley Kubel just a few weeks after receiving the request. Posey also presented the Medal of Merit last week to 19 Brevard high school seniors chosen by their principals. While all members of Congress have the discretion to award this medal to recognize the achievements of constituents, few do so.

Thumbs down: To Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford for breaking his pre-session promise of bipartisanship during the recently completed legislative session. Weatherford and the GOP-controlled House put politics before common sense in some decisions, most notably in rejecting a bipartisan Senate plan that would accept billions of dollars in federal Medicaid money to help provide private health insurance to about 1 million uninsured Floridians. The House's alternative offered less coverage to 115,000 residents, using only state tax money. The session ended in a stalemate over the issue.

Thumbs up: To the Florida Institute of Technology football program for landing a starring role on TV. The Panthers' inaugural Gulf South Conference game - against West Alabama at home at Palm Bay High School - will appear on the CBS Sports Network on Sept. 19.

Thumbs down: To Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria for betraying Florida baseball fans and taxpayers and delivering precisely the misery his fire sale of key players foretold. After Miami-Dade leaders committed taxpayers to covering 80 percent of the new, $634 million Marlins Park, Loria dumped the team's top talent this past off-season. Now, the Marlins have one of the worst records in baseball and the second-worst average attendance at 19,331 per game. Would you even accept free tickets?

Thumbs up: To Viera High varsity cheerleaders who rallied around their new teammate, Amanda Gibson, a junior with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair. Last week, the squad launched an effort on the Twitter social media site to get Amanda to meet pop-country singer Taylor Swift for her 17th birthday. Amanda is a huge fan who knows the words to every Swift song and has 25 Taylor Swift T-shirts. The cheerleaders' message spread quickly on Twitter, where it got so much support it became one of the top-trending tweets for two days.

Thumbs down: To 37-year-old Cedrick Royce Swinson of Charlotte, N.C., who, after coming up short of cash to pay the balance owed for a Disney cruise, is accused of robbing a Satellite Beach credit union last week. Investigators said Swinson felt "pressured" to fulfill his promise to take his girlfriend and her two children on the long-planned cruise.